"If you want to succeed in your life, remember this phrase: That past does not equal the future. Because you failed yesterday; or all day today; or a moment ago; or for the last six months; the last sixteen years; or the last fifty years of life, doesn't mean anything... All that matters is: What are you going to do, right now?" - Anthony Robbins

I'm tired of talking about change. It's time to make it happen!! *My Story* In February 2008, I accidentally ...

"If you want to succeed in your life, remember this phrase: That past does not equal the future. Because you failed yesterday; or all day today; or a moment ago; or for the last six months; the last sixteen years; or the last fifty years of life, doesn't mean anything... All that matters is: What are you going to do, right now?" - Anthony Robbins

I'm tired of talking about change. It's time to make it happen!!*My Story* In February 2008, I accidentally found SparkPeople via another awesome online site called MyPoints.com. I thought SparkPeople would help me lose a few pounds and maybe help me eat a little better. Then I realized ~ this site was so much more.

After joining SparkPeople, I lost some excess weight that had started to creep up on my historically slender frame. I started eating a healthier, natural diet. I figured out how to get my required water in each day (yay for tea!). I joined a gym (though getting me there still seems to be a bit of a challenge!). I reduced my debt to one credit card and a car loan. I became more environmentally aware - incorporating small ways to reduce the negative effect that my life, in general, has on the earth. I became active with the Louisville Affiliate of Susan G Komen and Brightside. --2-5-2009-- On February 5th 2009, I was nominated as a SparkPeople Motivator ~ an honor I will always cherish. And perhaps most importantly, I've met an amazing support network of fabulous people.

I'm still working toward my goals, my dreams, but I'm closer to being the person I always wanted to be. The key was and continues to be finding the right tools, the right plan, and never giving up ~ no matter how many times you have to start over.

So, I ask you...

What's your passion? What's your dream?

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There are lots of things we desire to own in this life, aren't there? Many of them are fine and dandy, as the saying goes. But there is the most important thing we own that many people never think about owning, and that is their life! They spend a lot of time thinking about the next set of golf clubs, a vacation home, or a new piece of jewelry, but they never really understand that they own their life. Whenever it comes time to be responsible, they end up placing the blame somewhere else, rather than realizing that they are the owner and so they are responsible! With that in mind, here are some thoughts about the ownership your have of your life:

You only own one person - you. You don't own your spouse. You don't own your boss. You don't own your kids (with kids, you are in charge of them, given the tremendous responsibility of teaching them to own their own lives, but you don't own them). No, there is only one person you own, and that is you. That is great news! Now you don't have to worry about running anybody else's life! This is a temptation for us isn't it? We just know how everybody else should do it, and with many of them we try to take ownership and run their life! Well, hands off!

Take control of your own life since it is the only one you own. You wouldn't try to drive somebody else's car from the grocery store parking lot, so don't try to drive their life either! You own you - so stick to you!

You get to choose what to do with only one person - you. Once you have come to realize that you only own you, you get to get to the fun part - running your life and making it what you want it to be. Instead of choosing what other people should do, you get to focus on choosing what you get to do. You get to begin to shape and mold your life. This is exciting! Aren't you glad you don't have to run everybody else's lives anymore? I am!

Your ownership means that you can do what you want with yourself. Your life is a blank sheet of paper. You can choose whatever you want to do. You can have whatever profession you want. You can earn as much money as you desire. You can marry whoever suits your fancy (as long as you suit their fancy too, by the way). Stop wishing and start choosing. I like to use the example of a person who is thirty years old and doesn't like their income. I tell them that if they so chose, they could go back to school, get a degree, go to medical school and by age forty be in a high-income profession. Then they would have 25 years of high wages to support the lifestyle they desire. You can choose whatever you want and take whatever actions you choose to rectify any situation you are in!

Your ultimate destination in life is set by you, not somebody else. Where will you end up? Wherever you choose to end up. You will do well to get it in your mind that some day you will be seventy years old and you will be at a certain place, and the only thing that got you there was the choices you made all along the way. Imagine that. If you are thirty, you have forty years - FORTY YEARS - of choices that can put you right where you want to be at the end of your life! So you're fifty-five? Who cares? You probably have at least twenty years left! You still have TWENTY YEARS to get yourself to whatever destination you choose. Do you know what a person can do in twenty years? ALMOST ANYTHING THEY SET THEIR HEART ON!

The responsibility for your life, and what you accomplish, is found in one person - you. You will accomplish what you choose to accomplish. You will make and save as much money as you choose to. You will write as many books as you choose to. You will take as many vacations as you choose to. You will have the kind of relationships you choose to. What you accomplish is up to you! Take that seriously!

Focus on your values and live them out, regardless of what other people do. This is key. We do not live our lives in a vacuum. We need to be very thoughtful about what we believe, about what our values are, and what our morality is. These things will all shape how we go about exerting ownership of our lives. But once we have come to understand these things for ourselves, the power to live our lives increases tremendously. Now it doesn't matter what anybody else does.

It doesn't matter what the circumstances are. We live out of our morality, values and beliefs. These are the principles that transcend everything else and enable us to set our course!

I know this seems like a lot of responsibility, but I consider it a freedom and a privilege! We get one life to live and we get to shape it however we want. That is one job I want to take seriously and not mess up! With diligence, hard work, and a lot of right decisions, I'll get to the end of my life deeply fulfilled. I hope you will to!

-- by Chris Widener

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Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, satan shudders and says, "Oh, no........she's awake!!!"

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO, what a ride!"

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A co-worker shared this with me. I thought I should share it with you.

THE BOTTOM LINE.

Face it. Nobody owes you a living - what you achieve or fail to achieve in your lifetime is directly related to what you do or fail to do. No one chooses his parents or childhood, but you can choose your own direction. Everyone has problems and obstacles to overcome, but that too is relative to each individual. Nothing is carved in stone! You can change anything in your life if you want it badly enough. Excuses are for losers. Those who take responsibility for their actions are the real winners in life. Winners meet life's challenges head on, knowing there are no guarantees, and give it all they've got. They never think it's too late or too early to begin. Time plays no favorites and will pass whether you act or not. Take control of your life! Dare to dream and take risks... Compete. If you aren't willing to work for your goals, don't expect others to. Believe in yourself!

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Some quotes I hold near and dear:

"To be nobody but yourself--in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else-- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." - EE Cummings, poet

"Happiness is a journey, not a destination; happiness is to be found along the way not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it's too late. The time for happiness is today not tomorrow." -Paul H. Dunn

"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself." - Anna Quindlen

"There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do." - Freya Madeline Stark

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." - Helen Keller

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." - Herm Albright

"Think highly of yourself, because the world takes you at your own estimate."

"This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy." - Susan Polis Schutz

"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want MOST for what you want NOW." - Zig Ziglar

"You pile up enough tomorrows and you'll be left with nothing but a bunch of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." - Meredith Wilson

"The greatest waste in the world is the difference between what we are and what we can be." - Ben Herbster

I love this quote. Self-improvement and growing is a never ending process. This is why I continue to push myself. Sure, where I'm at is pretty darn great, but imagine where I could be if I just put forth more effort!! The important part to remember is that self-improvement is a journey - don't forget to appreciate and relish the journey! Otherwise, if you're always looking for the carrot at the end, you'll miss the whole darn thing!! (refer back to the sentence "Self-improvement and growing is a never ending process.") ~~~~~~~ Liz

I wish I could have more than 6 'Friends' featured on my SparkPage because I have met so many wonderful people on this journey - and so many have touched me in so many ways. Every one of you has taught me something, shared something, and I'm thrilled to be a part of your journey as well. Please know that every one of you are dear to me, and I'm glad to be considered your friend.

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Other Information:
What's with the Martinis? I'm not a lush, I swear! Besides ~ anything can go in a martini glass. I'm lucky to have a "real" one once every month or so. I just love the way Martini glasses look - sleek, sexy, sophisticated.

Thank you for reading my blog!!! No the Smucker's PB needs to be mixed as it separates. I will have to try the JIF next time, thanks for the tip. I understand completely about going and going because you want to do it all... I have those days too. Just be sure to take care of yourself and take some time to relax too.

You're doing great, in spite of that cold! But get better soon. And I think it's awesome that you're jogging!! 5 minutes or 50 minutes, good for you (wish I could run, but can't get past the bad knee and foot)!

Thank you for the peek of spring! Lol. It's been warm, then rainy, then warm, then hail and rain and snow.......the weather this year is nuts! How are You doing? I gained quite a bit....10 pounds! About I'm back down 3. So I have 18 to reach my goal. Although I will have to think of a new reward. I wanted diamond earring. And my adorable DSH got the, for me as a surprise for Christmas and said that after losing 75 pounds I was close enough......awe. But I still need to reach it. So what is new and exciting? Where are you living? You got married right? How is work? Gosh there is so much to catch up on....do tell!